Comic fans were shocked today when Valiant sent a preview of their upcoming Bloodshot #9, which features technologically-advanced trained killer engaging an elderly woman in a fistfight.

"Frankly, I find this very troubling," said Murray Donaldson of Boca Raton, FL, who is an old person. "With every blow delivered by Bloodshot, I feel like he's punching out my dear, departed wife Flora. I don't know why they have to do that." Donaldson then went on and on about the kids these days and why the soup tastes so bad before dozing off. "ZZZZZZ," snored Donaldson.

Valiant, however, maintains that their comic is a more well-rounded depiction of the real problem. "If you look, the old broad is giving as good as she's getting," explained Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons. "Sure, we have an epidemic of elderly abuse in this country, but our old lady isn't just a victim. She's fighting back, even knocking Bloodshot down at one point."

While the controversial marketing strategy is certainly bold, will it pay off for the growing publisher? Some analysts are not so sure. "You have to remember, comics have an aging fanbase," said one industry insider. "The industry hasn't recruited a new reader since sometime around 1993, so the youngest readers are around 30 years old."

"At the same time," he countered, "it's highly possible that comics fandom also consists of a lot of technologically advanced trained killers. No one's ever really done the demographics on that. We'll just have to wait and see."

BLOODSHOT #9 Goes Up in Flames

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Bloodshot #9 by best-selling writerDuane Swierczynski and fan favorite artist Manuel Garcia! With Harbinger Wars just 30 days away, the foundation of Valiant's first family crossover gets laid right here in the indispensable final chapter of "The Rise & The Fall" – and there's no turning back now.

Deep in the bowels of Project Rising Spirit, Bloodshot is about to face the most difficult decision of his life. Confronted with his past as a PRS "Harbinger hunter," will he release the dangerously super-powered test subjects he once captured back into the world – even as they plot a campaign of fear and terror? Or will he return to the role he knows best – killer – and finish the job he was designed to do? Is he a savior? Or an assassin? And which path will wipe his slate clean, once and for all?

Full of shocks, heart-stopping action and more backstabbing than a dozen productions ofJulius Caesar, Bloodshot #9 has its finger on the trigger – and the shot that will be heard 'round the Valiant Universe gets fired right here on March 13th!